Jail-bound court defendant to judge: Hold on, I left my 3-year-old daughter in the car outside

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One of several suspects arrested for allegedly using fake credit cards at the Graton Casino showed up to court Thursday in Santa Rosa, only to leave her 3-year-old girl unattended in a parking lot with meth syringes inside, authorities said.

Jhona Mathews was arrested Saturday for allegedly using fake credit cards at Graton Casino. That was just the start of her legal troubles. (Graton Resort and Casino/Courtesy photo)

Jhona Mathews, 33, of Walnut Creek was arrested Saturday and posted $10,000 bail the same day. She appeared in Sonoma County Superior Court for her scheduled arraignment Thursday.

But when the judge said her bail was being increased to $50,000, Mathews informed the judge that she had left her 3-year-old daughter unattended in her car, authorities said.

Deputies immediately left the courthouse and found the girl sleeping in the back seat of Mathews’ locked car in a court parking lot, county sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Raasch said.

“Deputies awoke the little girl and had her unlock the car door,” Raasch said.

Mathews, who is on probation in Marin County for credit card fraud, was then booked at Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of felony child endangerment, drug violations and a probation violation.

She is now being held without bail. Her daughter was turned over to Child Protective Services.

Mathews was one of five suspects arrested for allegedly making fake credit cards at a Rohnert Park hotel room and using them at the Graton Casino and at other locations. The group allegedly rented Mercedes-Benz cars with fake cards and didn’t return them.